Clinton heads to Mideast to talk Israel-Gaza crisis

11/20/12 2:47 AM EST

PHNOM PENH—Secretary of State Hillary Clinton departed for the Mideast Tuesday in a bid to calm the violence that has escalated in recent days between Israel and the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, the White House announced.

Clinton left from the Asian summit meeting here on a trip that will take her to Jerusalem, Ramallah in the West Bank, and Cairo, Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes told reporters traveling with President Barack Obama.

"The president and Secretary Clinton have been talking about the situation throughout the trip" they've been on in Asia, Rhodes said. "We believe the best way to advance the discussions we've had with leaders in the region is for Secretary Clinton to take this trip, beginning with our close partner Israel."

However, Rhodes said Clinton has no intention of meeting with officials of Hamas, which the U.S. regards as a terrorist organization.

"I can assure you she'll be meeting with the Palestinian Authority. The US does not engage directlty with Hamas," Rhodes said. While the Palestinian Authority has no control over Gaza, Rhodes said meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is important and worthwhile. "President Abbas is the elected leader of the Palestinians so they are a critical voice in these matters," Rhodes said.

The White House spoke positively about the role the Muslim Brotherhood-led government in Egypt has been playing in trying to end the violence.

"The president and the secretary believe the Egyptians have been quite constructive," Rhodes said.

Rhodes said the U.S. "is able to walk and chew gum at the same time," managing the planned diplomacy in Asia with the reaction to the unplanned crisis in the Mideast. He also said Obama has been burning the candle at both ends in order to respond to the Israel-Gaza fighting.

"He was on the phone until 2:30 in the morning," Rhodes said.

UPDATE (Tuesday 3:09 A.M.): This post has been updated with additional remarks from Rhodes's briefing.

UPDATE 2 (Tuesday 3:34 A.M.): This post has been updated with word that Clinton has left Phnom Penh for Israel